February 2, 2021

How To Apply Hyaluronic Acid Because You Might Be Doing It Wrong

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Do you know how to apply your Hyaluronic Acid the right way? You might be surprised to learn you’re doing it wrong! I always find HA reviews online interesting because many expressed how dry their skin felt after applying Hyaluronic Acid! Dry? That can’t be right!

Hyaluronic Acid is humectant. It acts like a sponge and draws moisture to your skin while helping to retain that moisture. It’s one of the best things you can use if you have dull, drier skin as it acts to pull in moisture and plumps up your skin. And as I always say, well hydrated skin is not only happier skin but also younger and brighter skin. I personally have duller, drier skin and my number one way to rid myself of dullness is moisture. If you’re well hydrated your skin will look a lot less duller and you’ll get back that natural luminous glow.

If you’re experiencing dryness directly after Hyaluronic Acid you might just be applying it wrong!

Remember Hyaluronic Acid works draws moisture in so if you apply it on dry skin it’s going to start absorbing moisture from your skin and pull it out. That’s not what you want to happen. You want it to draw moisture in. For the best results apply your Hyaluronic Acid on damp skin than apply your moisturizer of choice on top of it. The dampness sets a perfect canvas for the Hyaluronic Acid to start drawing moisture from and you’ll instantly notice how it begins to plump up and smooth skin.

One of the only HA formulas I can apply on dry skin is CosRX Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence! It’s actually a favorite of mine along with the Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream. CosRX formula is an essence-like gel which feels very moisturizing right at the get go. I still apply it to damp skin but even dry application you’ll notice it’s quite moisturizing and retains moisture well!

Two other very affordable Hyaluronic Acid to try would be The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and the Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum!

No matter what brand you’re using just always remember to apply your HA on damp skin for the best results!

Good Luck!

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About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • MDW

    I use an over the counter glucosamine/chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, calcium, vitamin d, vitamin c and magnesium pills. Makes for a great big pill I need to break in half. Great for lots of symptoms.

    All that to say so I take hyaluronic acid internally. Makes every single cell in the body hold on to H2O.

    I did notice some inflamed parts of my face get a little drier when putting hyaluronic acid on topically. I hesitated making the area damp because it made the topical hyaluronic acid slip off.
    Which complicated things because I was using it on the eye area.

    But overall I think it was because of using it in the dry winter months. Made the whole process more complicated.

  • Cheryl

    I actually love my HA from the Inkey List. Having said that, I still feel like I applying it wrong. I do it after I wash my face, but I think my skin is dry by the point I include it. I have read a lot of “order of operations” of skin hair posts (here and elsewhere!) but am still confused. If I want to get the most out of my HA, do I still apply it first after washing…before retinols, vitamin C, glycolic acid, etc.? I followed your recommendation to apply face oil after moisturizer, so I am wondering your thoughts on this. Thank you!

    • Isabella Muse

      You can mist a little face mist on and apply your HA on top! typically it’s cleanse, any chemical exfoliating products you’re using, follow by your ha, and moisturizer. Or in your case you’ll want to do your retinol at night your vit c in the morning. so cleanse, vit c, ha in the morning and cleanse, retinol, ha at night or you can even switch up retinol and vit c on different nights of the week just not together. You wanna do the same with your glycolic acid you might want to alternate with! You need to listen to your skin on that one! I don’t really use a retinol and GA together! It makes me flake up so I just use it on alternate nights!

  • Christina

    I also like to apply a hydrating toner and apply the HA right after while it’s still drying. I think it works really well, especially if you have a thicker essence. Speaking of which, have you tried I’m From’s Fig Essence? That stuff is very humectant and a little sticky until it dries down. I usually hate sticky anything, but since it does work well, I tolerate it.

    • Isabella Muse

      I haven’t! I gotta go look that up! I’ve been using Farmstay snail lately! Just wish it wasn’t scented :-/ I’ll have to try this one as your recs are always spot on!

  • kimkats

    Yay! I’ve been doing it right. You sucked me in on the CosRx stuff – bought it a couple weeks ago at Ulta, and Boy do I like it!! I’m eager to try it when the weather warms up and gets more humid. He!!, I’m ready to try *anything* to make the weather warm up!! 😀 Sounds like you guys got a bastid of a blizzard out there – Be careful Miss Muse!!! Stay warm and safe!! We’re pretty much dug out o f our mess from about 10 days ago, just wish it’d melt away -fast. But after tomorrow, we’re in for a wretchedly cold snap, but that’s just February. My least favorite month of the year – good thing its the shortest, or I’d probably have to be committed to get thru it! 😀

    • Isabella Muse

      yay happy to hear it! But beware, HA isn’t always beneficial in a humid environment! Oh lawd and it’s still showing! I’m good thanks dear 🙂 warm and safe! We still gotta get through March! That’s a lion!

  • Lauren

    Good to know. The one I don’t know what to do with that I received a full size sample of is niacimide? Is that a day or night thing? Under sunscreen thing? Mix into moisturizer thing? It’s an eye dropper bottle and very liquid.

    • Isabella Muse

      You can day and night with it. Don’t mix it into your moisturizer just apply it as a serum And absolutely under sunscreen!

  • Sara

    I use the Skinmedica HA5, but I mix a pump of it in my hand with a spray of the Replinix Soothing Antioxident Mist. Feels amazing.
    I kind of want to go wash my face now..

  • onyx

    As someone who lives where the humidity level has been known to drop as low as 11%, it’s important to mention that Hyaluronic acid will actually dry your skin out if you live somewhere with no humidity. If there is no moisture in the air, it will pull it from your skin.

    • Isabella Muse

      Very true onyx and very much worth a mention! I always assume everyone is in the dead of Winter like NY is 😀